| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. |
Lo – Commencing Job's masterly reply. R5402:1
Hath heard – The false reasonings of his friends (which many improperly quote as inspired). R5402:1
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| 2 What ye know, I know also: I am not inferior to you. |
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| 3 But I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with *God; |
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| 4 For ye indeed are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. |
Of no value – His friends told him that he must have been a great sinner and a hypocrite. R5401:6
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| 5 Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom. |
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| 6 Hear now my defence, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. |
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| 7 Will ye speak unrighteously for *God? and for him speak deceit? |
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| 8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for *God? |
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| 9 Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him? |
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| 10 He will certainly reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons. |
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| 11 Shall not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you? |
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| 12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your bulwarks are bulwarks of mire. |
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| 13 Hold your peace from me, and I will speak, and let come on me what will ! |
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| 14 Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand? |
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| 15 Behold, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him. |
Though he slay me – Though much cast down, he maintained his integrity and his faith in the Lord. R5803:4
He sought in vain for an explanation. R5401:6
Many of God's people since have been similarly confused as to why God permits evil to come upon his faithful servants. R5402:1
Yet will I trust – Job's expression of confidence in God and in his ultimate deliverance. R5402:1
I shall yet receive his favor and learn what he means by these afflictions coming upon me. R5333:4
His trust was not misplaced. After his testings, God gave him back children, houses, lands and friends which foreshadowed the coming blessings of restitution. R5333:4
Mine own ways – Conscious of his own heart-honesty toward God, Job defends himself, but goes to too great an extreme in declaring his own innocence. R5401:6
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| 16 This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before his face. |
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| 17 Hear attentively my speech and my declaration with your ears. |
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| 18 Behold now, I have ordered the cause; I know that I shall be justified. |
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| 19 Who is he that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire. |
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| 20 Only do not two things unto me; then will I not hide myself from thee. |
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| 21 Withdraw thy hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid: |
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| 22 Then call, and I will answer; or I will speak, and answer thou me. |
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| 23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin. |
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| 24 Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, and countest me for thine enemy? |
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| 25 Wilt thou terrify a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble? |
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| 26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth; |
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| 27 And thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou settest a bound about the soles of my feet; -- |
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| 28 One who, as a rotten thing consumeth, as a garment that the moth eateth. |
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